Portable carrier for beverage containers

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a portable carrier. The portable carrier is capable of removably retaining and carrying a beverage container. The portable carrier comprises an enclosure and a strap. The enclosure includes a base and a sidewall. The sidewall is extending vertically upward from a periphery of the base for configuring a hollow space with a top opening. The enclosure is capable of removably retaining the beverage container within the hollow space. Further, the strap is detachably coupled to the enclosure, proximate to the top opening, for configuring a loop for removably suspending the enclosure to a neck of a user for carrying the beverage container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to beverage container carriers, and more particularly, to a beverage container carrier that allows hands-free carrying of beverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverage containers are used in various environments to provide a convenient method for storing and consuming a liquid beverage. The usefulness of such beverage containers particularly extends to bicyclists, hikers, joggers and others in the pursuit of recreational, athletic and other outdoor activities. Generally, a beverage container is placed in a suitable portable carrier, such as a conventional “koozie,” while performing various outdoor activities.

The conventional koozie is capable of removably storing various types of the beverage container in order to maintain ideal temperature of the beverage container. The conventional koozie is suitable for maintaining the ideal temperature of the beverage container, but a task of holding and carrying such conventional koozie with the beverage containers may be extremely annoying to a user. More often than not, the task of carrying and holding such conventional koozie with the beverage container requires a use of at least one hand of the user. The use of the at least one hand in carrying the conventional koozie restricts the user from performing other activities. Furthermore, in the conventional koozie may include a problem of liquid contents spilling from the beverage container, if the conventional koozie is not held appropriately.

Accordingly, there exists a need of a koozie for beverage containers that allows hands-free carrying of beverage containers. Further, there is a need of a koozie that may avoid problem of spilling of liquid contents from the beverage container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the forgoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable carrier for beverage containers that is configured to include all advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent in the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable carrier for a beverage container that is capable of being removably suspended to a neck of a user for carrying the beverage container, thereby keeping the user's hands free for performing various activates by the free hands.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable carrier for a beverage container that is capable of preventing liquid contents from spilling from the beverage container stored in the portable carrier.

To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, a portable carrier is provided. The portable carrier is capable of removably retaining and carrying a beverage container. The portable carrier comprises an enclosure and a strap. The enclosure includes a base and a sidewall. The sidewall is extending vertically upward from a periphery of the base for configuring a hollow space with a top opening. The enclosure is capable of removably retaining the beverage container within the hollow space, upon placing the beverage container from the top opening. Further, the strap is detachably coupled to the enclosure, proximate to the top opening, for configuring a loop for removably suspending the enclosure to a neck of a user for carrying the beverage container.

This together with the other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterized the present invention, is pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forms a part of the present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specified object attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a portable carrier, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For a thorough understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the following detailed description, including the appended claims, in connection with the above-described drawings. Although the present invention is described in connection with exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The term “inside”, “outside”, “top” and the like, herein do not denote any order, elevation or importance, but rather are used to distinguish placement of one element over another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

The present invention provides a portable carrier. The portable carrier is capable of removably retaining and carrying beverage containers, such as cold drink cans, bottles, and water bottles. The portable carrier provides a convenient method for removably retaining and carrying the beverage containers during any event or occasion. The portable carrier is removably suspended to a neck of a user, thereby keeping the user's hands free for performing various activities.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a portable carrier 1000 is illustrated, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The portable carrier 1000 of the present invention is capable of removably retaining and carrying a beverage container 100. The beverage container 100 may include but not limited to a cold drink can, and a water bottle. The portable carrier 1000 of the present invention comprises an enclosure 200 and a strap 300. The strap 300 is detachable coupled to the enclosure 200 in such a manner that the strap 300 forms a loop 400 that is capable of removably suspending the enclosure 200 to a neck of a user (not shown). By suspending the enclosure 200 to the neck of the user, the user may keep his/her hands free for performing various activities.

As shown in FIG. 1, the enclosure 200, in one embodiment of the present invention is a cylindrical shaped enclosure. However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the enclosure 200 may have other shapes, such as a boxed shape. The enclosure 200 of the present embodiment includes a base 210 and a sidewall 220. The sidewall 220 extends vertically upward from a periphery 230 of the base 210 for configuring a hollow space with a top opening 250. The top opening 250 provides accessibility to the hollow space therefrom. Particularly, the beverage container 100 is removably retained within the hollow space from the top opening 250. The top opening 250 of the present embodiment is at an open position. However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art to close the top opening 250. The top opening may be closed by suitable closing means, such as a cap.

Further, the enclosure 200 includes a foam arrangement 260 disposed at an inside surface (not shown) of the sidewall 220 of the enclosure 200. In one embodiment of the present invention, the foam arrangement 260 may be glued at the inside surface of the sidewall 220. However, it will evident to the person skilled in the art to dispose the foam arrangement 260 at the inside surface by any other suitable means. The foam arrangement 260 enables in maintaining an ideal temperature of the beverage container 100. For example, if the beverage container 100 is hot, the foam arrangement 260 maintains the hot temperature thereof, or if the beverage container 100 is cold, the foam arrangement 260 maintains cold temperature thereof. Furthermore, the enclosure 200, at an outside surface 270 of the sidewall 220, includes an advertising space 280. The advertising space 280 may be used as marketing and promotional tool for a business. The advertising space 280 may be incorporated with a logo, a slogan of a particular owner of the portable carrier 1000 for marketing of the portable carrier 1000.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the strap 300 is detachably coupled to the enclosure 200. For detachably coupling the strap 300 with the enclosure 200, attachment means 310 a and 310 b are provided. The attachment means 310 a and 310 b are, respectively, coupled to portions 250 a and 250 b of the enclosure 200 at proximate to the top opening 250 of the enclosure 200. The attachment means 310 a and 310 b may include, but are not limited to, a clasp. In one embodiment of the present invention, the strap 300 may be detachably coupled to the enclosure 200 by the attachment means 310 a and the 310 b. Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, for detachably coupling the strap 300 with the enclosure 200, at least one least one swivel arrangement is provided. In FIG. 1, the portable carrier 1000 is shown to include two swivel arrangements 500 a and 500 b, for detachably coupling the strap 300 with the enclosure 200.

In the present embodiment of invention, the strap 300 is detachably coupled to the enclosure 200 by the swivel arrangements 500 a and 500 b. More particularly, the strap 300 includes two end portions 320 a and 320 b, and an adjustable mechanism 330 slidably configured on the strap 300 for adjusting a length of the strap 300. The end portion 320 a is coupled to the swivel arrangement 500 a. Further, the end portion 320 b extends from the swivel arrangement 500 b, and detachably coupled to the adjustable mechanism 330 of the strap 300. Furthermore, the swivel arrangements 500 a and 500 b are detachably coupled to the attachment means 310 b and 310 a, respectively, thereby detachably coupling the strap 300 with the enclosure 200 to configure the loop 400. The loop 400 is capable of removably suspending the enclosure 200 to the neck of the user, thereby removably suspending the portable carrier 1000 having the beverage container 100 to the neck of the user, and keeping his/her hands free for performing various other outdoor activities. Further, the user, as per his/her requirement or preference, may increase or decrease the length of the strap 300 by using the adjustable mechanism 330 in order to increase or decrease the length of the strap 300 for comfortably suspending the portable carrier 1000 to his/her neck.

The swivel arrangements 500 a and 500 b, as described above, allow a swivel movement of the enclosure 200, to move freely with a body of the user, upon removably suspending the portable carrier 1000 to the neck of the user. The swivel movement of the enclosure 200 prevents spilling of liquid contents stored in the beverage container 100. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, each of the swivel arrangements 500 a and 500 b includes at least one stopple for stopping the swivel movement of the enclosure 200, whenever required by the user. For the purpose of representation, the swivel arrangement 500 a, and the swivel arrangement 500 b are, respectively, shown to include stopples 510 a and 510 b, and stopples 520 a and 520 b, in FIG. 1. The stopples 510 a and 510 b, and the stopples 520 a and 520 b are, respectively, coupled to the swivel arrangement 500 a, and the swivel arrangement 500 b, in an adjustable manner for stopping the swivel movement of the enclosure 200, whenever required by the user.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the strap 300 includes a cushion member 340 slidably coupled thereto. In another embodiment of the present invention, the cushion member 340 may be permanently coupled to the strap 300 by a means of stitching or gluing. The cushion member 340 provides a cushioning effect to the neck of the user upon removably suspending the portable carrier 1000 to the neck of the user. In the present embodiment, the cushion member 340 include through holes 340 a and 340 b, through which the strap 300 passes for slidably coupling the cushion member 340 with the strap 300. The cushion member 340 may be adjusted on the strap 300, as per the user's requirement by sliding the cushion member 340 on the strap 300. In one embodiment of the present invention, the strap 300 and the cushion member 340 may be made of cotton material, which may be comfortable for the neck of the user.

A portable carrier, such as the portable carrier 1000 of the present invention offers following advantages. The portable carrier is capable of removably retaining beverage containers. The portable carrier having a beverage container is capable of being removably suspended to a neck of a user for carrying the beverage container, thereby keeping the user's hands free for performing various activities by the free hands. Further, the portable carrier for the beverage container is capable of preventing liquid contents from spilling from the beverage container stored in the portable carrier.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention 

1. A portable carrier for removably retaining and carrying a beverage container, the portable carrier comprising: an enclosure comprising a base and a sidewall extending vertically upward from a periphery of the base for configuring a hollow space with a top opening, wherein the enclosure is capable of removably retaining the beverage container within the hollow space; and a strap detachably coupled to the enclosure, proximate to the top opening, for configuring a loop for removably suspending the enclosure to a neck of a user for carrying the beverage container.
 2. The portable carrier of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a foam arrangement disposed at an inside surface of the sidewall for maintaining an ideal temperature of the beverage container.
 3. The portable carrier of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises an adjustable mechanism configured thereon for adjusting length of the strap.
 4. The portable carrier of claim 1, further comprising at least one swivel arrangement for providing a swivel movement to the enclosure.
 5. The portable carrier of claim 4, wherein each of the at least one swivel arrangement comprises at least one stopple for stopping the swivel movement.
 6. The portable carrier of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a cushion member slidably coupled thereto. 